Today, we made the journey from Camden to Kingston University. There, we took part in several mini-labs that dealt with Sport Science, particularly the physiology concentration of the subject. Kingston University’s Sport Science program is ranked 2nd in the United Kingdom, so we were very fortunate to be exposed to some of the best equipment and study techniques in the world.There were two labs, each dealing with a different aspect of the major. Both of the labs were hands on, and we got to take part in some exercises.

One lab was centered around endurance and how it affected different types of athletes in different ways. This was run by Hannah Moir, whose research specializes in the effects of exercise on immune function, and by Chris Howe, who runs ultra marathons. One group had Kenyon, a long-distance runner, run to max exhaustion. He wore a mask that measured oxygen-intake and carbon dioxide-output. It was interesting to see how as Kenyon became more fatigued, the levels of these two things had changed. The other group had Dae’Kevion, an athlete who runs more short-distance events, do the same thing. We then compared and contrasted the data collected in these exercises. After this part of the lab, we moved on to an exercise oriented around power rather than endurance. In this, our group picked Sean to test his power on an exercise bike. However, this exercise bike was not ordinary. It contained monitors which measured things such as power and how fast it took Sean to reach his peak power. Sean plays running back for the Carleton football team, so he was a very fitting candidate for the activity. Also, because of this, it was surprising to everyone when the other group’s contestant actually out-performed him. Oliver, the selected student in the other group, happened to reach a higher amount of power on the bike than Sean had. It was awesome to be able to have the freedom to ask Chris and Hannah any question we wanted as they were obviously very knowledgeable. I think everyone learned something new from not only the lab but also from side conversations with them.

Between labs, our group was able to look at some interesting technology Kingston University has such as a heat chamber and an altitude chamber. These are used for research to see the effects of heat and altitude on the body during workouts. In addition, athletes come in to Kingston University to use the chambers in preparation for sporting events. Obviously, the United Kingdom is not as hot as the Sahara Desert. So, if someone were to have an upcoming race in such an environment, they can use the heat chamber to prepare. After we finished the first lab, we went to work with Ivan Vatolik, who specializes in biomechanics. As the name suggests, this lab dealt with movements of the body and muscle use. Volunteers attached reflective sensors to their joints. Then, using a special camera, we were able to see the outline of our body as we performed various tasks, such as kicking a soccer ball. This would be used to help with form in sports. Average athletes are able to compare their own way of striking a ball to that of Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo. After that, other volunteers attached sensors to their biceps, and they performed curls. The sensors measured muscle activation, and it was very clear when someone was lifting a weight compared to when they were not.

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The labs were very interesting, and it showed our whole group how advanced sport science is. For us, we follow some training rules because we are told to and don’t ask questions. For example, rest days are important, and one should not over-exert their body. Someone ran tests to find that out. It was intriguing to see those kinds of tests being performed. I think all students who attended the sport science lab at Kingston would agree that a big thank you is in order for Hannah, Chris, and Ivan. Because they were willing to share their time and expertise with us, we were all able to learn a lot about various research techniques used in sports science. We all had a great time, and it is a memory that will not soon be forgotten.